Latest Update

Several updates about my car.

• I have not renewed his insurance and road tax.
• I have not purchased new batteries
• I have not driven it long distance for about two months
• I have not washed it for several months
  

I think I have started it with jump starters two weeks ago, so it's not altogether a bad thing.

Yes, car-pooling and bus-riding has me neglecting my car.

But I know, sooner or later, he will live his normal life again.

In Car Entertainment

I prefer to keep my car STELLAR simple.

No radios are present. Instead I use the MP3 feature I have on my handphone to listen to music through earphone or small headphones.

I don't have spotlights. With this limitation, I usually drove slowly come nighttime.

In fact I drove slowly most of the time. I call it, fuel saving mode.

But then again, I do entertain myself sometimes. All I do is to downshift to third, then press further a bit the throttle. Then I listen to the carburettor emit the lovely sound I look forward to.

And then we flew together.

Pure bliss I would describe.

Missing That Familiar Sight

The buses are way unreliable.

I should have just gone to Putrajaya Central, instead of waiting for them at JPM.

The first RapidKL bus (the E5) finally arrived at 7.35am, 55 minutes later.

Tomorrow I'll just board either the E1 or the U42 bus, or the Metrobus.

All these made me think of fitting STELLAR with a lightweight NGV kit. So I can just drive daily without worry.

Missing him so much...

Wish List

I seem to have an endless wish list.

But I guess I try to list most of them.

For STELLAR the Mini, I wish he have a(n)

• Enkei Racing Wheel (he didn't have a spare tyre yet)
  
• Close Ratio Gear Kit
• Adjustable Camshaft Timing Set
• Race Cylinder Head
• Mini Minus Chassis
  
• RC40 Exhaust
• K&N Air Filter
  
• Oil Filter Opener
  
• Torque Wrench

For Nik (my Nikon D40), I wish he have a:

• 1:1 Macro Lens (must be a Nikkor AF-S)
  
• Very Long Telephoto Zoom (a Nikkor is a miracle, but an Opteka's fine)

For myself, I wish I have a:

• MP4 Player
• Nokia Communicator (any one of them)
  
• Nikon FM2
• House (yes, the big thing people call home)
• year 2000 up Peugeot 406 or year 2004 below Kia Optima

I counted a figure of 10k for STELLAR alone. So you can imagine if I can just call it a wish.

One thing at a time will do.

More Than A Car

STELLAR is more than just a daily-driver. It is also my hobby, diner, studio and racer. And a Mini being a daily-driver is really a rare occurence.

Him as a hobby is when it comes to driving and maintaining. I don't usually maintain all aspects of it. Mostly basic stuffs like checking and simple repairs. But most of the time, I treat it as a hobby when I drive it. The cornering, the acceleration, the stunts. As a hobby, it tends to be an expensive one. Maintenance by a third party is one of the things that matters to make this a prolonged hobby. It's an old car, so I would expect to give more TLC. And even more if I drive it to the limits.

As a diner, I regularly eat food in it. And it's not just about any bite-sized tidbits. It includes rice and other staple food, usually in the poisonous styrofoam container (it's still easier than plastic all the time). And the spoon will move while I'm on the straights, or at a traffic light. And he witnessed me eating chocolates everytime.

STELLAR is also a recording/vocal studio. Sort of. I always sing in it. And sometimes, you can see me playing air drums, air bass, or even air guitar, not to mention air singing (singing while holding an invisible mic and stand). And it's always full-fledged singing, falsetto or real voice, and trying very hard to do everything they do.

Current sing-along favorites:
L.A. Guns - Never Enough
Mariah Carey - Someday

It's a quick racer too, though I doubt I will outrun most cars. Usually I love tailing people, instead of outrunning them. At least I won't get embarrassed my mind said I lost. First gear and second gears are good enough, though at third and fourth, I can only get moderate pick-up.

I plan to race it someday. When expenses permits, and more go-faster mods are done. Drag race, motorkhana, hill climb and rally are some of the options.

I guess STELLAR will stay in my life for quite a while.